sustainable development. today… the story of stuff ethical relevance sustainable engineering...

Sustainable Development

Today…

The Story Of Stuff Ethical Relevance Sustainable Engineering Sustainable Business Appropriate Technology

The Story of Stuff

Global Impacts

Metal – South Africa Petroleum – Iraq Plastics – China Assembly – Mexico

Oil and food

So What?

Inputs and Outputs – we’re working with a global economy

When we’re talking about sustainable solutions Impact can be hard to predict

Dioxin – An Organochlorine

Do not break down easily – long-lasting Build up, accumulating in food, water,

bodies Linked with cancer, infertility, immune

suppression, birth defects Generational delays in effects create

inability to link cause, creating difficulty in legislature efforts

So What?

The Law is the only limit, and many businesses challenge these – when we’re looking for guidance where should we look; research? Legislation?

We’re not just degrading our environment, we’re degrading our evolution

Recycling

A good thing! – But for who?

Down-cycling?

Manufactured Landscapes – clip of recycling electronic waste in China

So What?

We need more dramatic change

This is going to be difficult

“Around us there is a breakdown of values in business and government…It is the fact that we are not willing to sacrifice for the ethics and values we profess. For an ethic is not an ethic, and a value not a value, without some sacrifice for it, something not taken, something not gained. We do it in exchange for a greater good, for something worth more than just money or power and position.” – Jerry Kohlberg

Ethics…

If we live in a global society – how far-reaching is our ethical obligation as engineers? As human beings?

If our actions have global consequences do we need to more proactively consider our global impacts?

Power Constructs

How can we influence any of this?

Politics

Economics

Technology

Engineers: ImplementingEngineers: Creating

What are we talking about?

What does Sustainable mean?

What do we mean by development?

Can we actually have sustainable development?

Triple Bottom Lines

Economy Ecology Equity

Triple Bottom Lines

Sustainable Engineering

Look beyond your own locality & immediate future

Innovate and be creative Seek a balanced solution Seek engagement from all stakeholders Make sure you understand needs and

wants

Sustainable Engineering

Plan and Manage Effectively Give Sustainability the benefit of the

doubt If polluters must pollute, they must pay

as well Adopt a cradle to grave approach Do things right, having decided the right

thing to do

Sustainable Engineering

Beware cost cutting that masquerades as value engineering

Practice what you preach

Cradle to Grave?

Cradle to Cradle– Signal your intention– Restore– Be ready to innovate further– Understand and prepare for the learning

curve– Exert intergenerational responsibility

Sustainable Business

Replace nationally and internationally produced items with products created locally and regionally

Take responsibility for effects on the natural world

Do not require exotic sources of capital in order to develop and grow

Sustainable Business

Engage in production processes that are human, worthy, dignified, and intrinsically satisfying

Create objects of durability and long-term utility whose ultimate use or disposition will not be harmful to future generations

Change consumers to customers through education

Appropriate Technology

What does sustainable development look like in other countries?

What does Appropriate Technology mean? Why is it important?

Appropriate Technology

Appropriate Technology

El Tofo, Chile

Site of Fog Collection Project

Mesh Fog Collectors (1990)

Fog Collection Nets In Operation (1994)

In 2002, only 9 of the 94 mesh collectors were still hanging…Why?

Group Questions

Community Preparation– What were the probable deficiencies?– What would you have done differently?

People, Resources, Structures– What was missing?– Strengths/Weaknesses?

What now?– Where would you begin if asked to plan a project

now for El Tofo?

Thank you!